I think it was 5d3 only. I need to get home at a decent hour tonight to finally get this thing loaded up. Getting super excited lol. Did you update your 7d firmware when they issued one a few months back?

Hear hear! I am really hoping the mkII will be a worthy upgrade. I am holding off on a 5D3 in hopes of a higher end crop body at a decent price point.

Even a generation old the 7D's focus is pretty damn good given that all it's focus points were cross type. Made shooting with wide apertures easy. Ever try using a 5D2 for moving stuff? Not easy at all.

I dont see it being much cheaper than a 5d3 though. the 7D started at like 1700 body only in 2009? Mark 2 will probably be over 2k when they finally release it. 5d3s are slowly coming under 2800. For full frame, and the IQ it provides and the fact that they're readily available now, a 5d3 might be worth it. Unless you're gunning for the extra reach and the extra fps that a 7d2 will provide, then by all means.

The 70D might be your answer though, that's supposed to come out before the 7D2 and finally go back to the X0D roots of being a higher end crop camera rather than the slightly better than rebel in a bigger boddy crop camera.

I already have a 7D and love the auto-focus, it's mainly the sensor that drives me crazy. The files take way more post than either my 1 or 5 series do. I'm in the same boat as Dave. I like having both. For birds, I like all the reach I can get. I'm totally happy with my 5D2 for landscapes and other things that don't move, but when I go birding, I take my 1D and 7D. .

I will be visiting Niagara Falls, and maybe DC and NYC over the next two weeks to show some relatives around (it's their first time in the US)...

What lenses do you recommend I take if I don't want to take my giant Kata backpack, but my smaller LowePro? Basically 2-3 lenses max.

I'm thinking my 16-35mm f/2.8L, 24-105mm f/4L IS, and 70-200mm f/4L IS. I can probably forgo taking the UWA if 24mm is wide enough to capture the falls and the large buildings in DC and NYC... any ideas? Also, should I take my Lee filters (polarizer and big stopper for Niagara) and tripod?

24mm is usually enough on a full-frame, but the water movement will not allow stitched panoramas. You may want the UWA to take long exposures on your tripod. Don't only long exposures of the falls, but you'll want a couple of good ones.

I'm in NYC right now and for the first time, i only brought my 40/f2.8 to force myself into using only one focal length. I feel like I'm back in the 1960s and will never do that again. I'm on the 37th floor, overlooking Time Square. I haven't process the shots, but I will end up cropping some shots that I wouldn't have to crop if I'd had my 24-105mm.

My pack always has a 50mm prime, a 70-300mm, and a 28mm prime. I tend to use these three when I shoot races. The small pack makes it easier to move about the in field and I honestly cant think of a situation ive put myself in where none of these three lenses didnt make sense.

My bag is small, basically just enough room for the body and 2-3 lenses depending on their size along with a tripod and a monopod strapped to the side of it and a cleaning kit, extra cards, etc...

24mm is usually enough on a full-frame, but the water movement will not allow stitched panoramas. You may want the UWA to take long exposures on your tripod. Don't only long exposures of the falls, but you'll want a couple of good ones.

I'm in NYC right now and for the first time, i only brought my 40/f2.8 to force myself into using only one focal length. I feel like I'm back in the 1960s and will never do that again. I'm on the 37th floor, overlooking Time Square. I haven't process the shots, but I will end up cropping some shots that I wouldn't have to crop if I'd had my 24-105mm.

Rodi would be proud of you.

The 24-105 has to be the best all-around lens there is. If I could only have one lens, that would be it.

24mm is usually enough on a full-frame, but the water movement will not allow stitched panoramas. You may want the UWA to take long exposures on your tripod. Don't only long exposures of the falls, but you'll want a couple of good ones.

I'm in NYC right now and for the first time, i only brought my 40/f2.8 to force myself into using only one focal length. I feel like I'm back in the 1960s and will never do that again. I'm on the 37th floor, overlooking Time Square. I haven't process the shots, but I will end up cropping some shots that I wouldn't have to crop if I'd had my 24-105mm.

Ouch. I would never bring a single prime on a vacation. If my primary objective was street photography or something like that, then sure... but, when you tour a city you never know when you'll need the ability to zoom, since many times you're in tight places or places where you can't easily move to re-frame.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

My pack always has a 50mm prime, a 70-300mm, and a 28mm prime. I tend to use these three when I shoot races. The small pack makes it easier to move about the in field and I honestly cant think of a situation ive put myself in where none of these three lenses didnt make sense.

My bag is small, basically just enough room for the body and 2-3 lenses depending on their size along with a tripod and a monopod strapped to the side of it and a cleaning kit, extra cards, etc...

Yeah, I forgot to mention to mention the 50mm prime. I'll bring that for sure because it's so nice and small.

Quote:

Originally Posted by M_Six

Rodi would be proud of you.

The 24-105 has to be the best all-around lens there is. If I could only have one lens, that would be it.

That is true Mark... and Rodi doesn't get proud very often. I also agree that if I could only take one lens, the 24-105mm would be it. It's my every day workhorse. I just wish they made a f/2.8 version of it some day, but sadly it would be like 50% more weight and cost a ton more.

Compliment, for specific uses. I think of my 500mm as a 500mm a 700mm and a 1000mm, depending on which TC I'm using. I'm now shooting at 1000mm 90% of the time, so 560mm doesn't sound like something that I need.

I think it'd be ideal for swim meets and a few such things. It's too heavy to be the second lens for someone carrying a 500 or 600mm. That honor still goes to a 70-200mm for me, with a 1.4x TC on most of the time.

Not the first time I've seen reviewers who couldn't handle a P&S, let alone a high end lens. I saw a review of the Samyang 24mm TS-E and the pics were horrible. Shot with a filthy sensor and seriously OOF. I'm waiting for reviews from trusted folks like Bryan at TDP.